Changes to bottle deposit rules rejected in committee

AUGUSTA, Maine — A Maine legislative committee is tossing out proposed changes in deposits charged under the state’s bottle law.

Instead, the Environment and Natural Resources Committee decided Monday to focus on stopping fraud in the bottle redemption system and giving smaller businesses more flexibility in how to package containers they collect.

The committee voted to kill a bill that would have removed containers larger than 28 ounces from Maine’s bottle law and establish a uniform 5 cent deposit.

The panel also brushed aside other changes and voted unanimously for a bill aimed at improving the existing system.

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A bill calling for an out-and-out repeal of the bottle law had already been withdrawn.

Environmentalists praised the committee’s action, saying the bottle law keeps a lot of plastic and glass out of landfills.